Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsunpepu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Dopetsunpepu’, characterized by its semi-mounding to semi-trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; flowers that are red purple and pale yellow to white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSUNPEPU’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Petunia Plant Named ‘Duesunelapr’

Applicant: Ruth Kobayashi

Filed: Dec. 12, 2016

Ser. No.: 15/530,205

Grant date: Apr. 3, 2018

U.S. Plant Pat. No.: 29,188

Title: Petunia Plant Named ‘Duesunpkmorn’

Applicant: Ruth Kobayashi

Filed: Dec. 12, 2016

Ser. No.: 15/530,203

Grant date: Apr. 3, 2018

U.S. Plant Pat. No.: 29,192

Title: Petunia Plant Named ‘Duesunrose’

Applicant: Ruth Kobayashi

Filed: Dec. 12, 2016

Ser. No.: 15/530,204

Grant date: Apr. 3, 2018

U.S. Plant Pat. No.: 29,189

Title: Petunia Plant Named ‘Duesunvan’

Applicant: Ruth Kobayashi

Filed: Dec. 12, 2016

Ser. No.: 15/530,202

Grant date: Mar. 27, 2018

U.S. Plant Pat. No.: 29,155

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dopetsunpepu’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new moderately vigorous and semi-mounding Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number TT-0814, not patented. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Nov. 11, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since Dec. 11, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsunpepu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dopetsunpepu’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-mounding to semi-trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Flowers that are red purple and pale yellow to white in         color.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection have salmon pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duesunelapr’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,188. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesunelapr’ in flower color as plants of ‘Duesunelapr’ have greyed yellow-colored flowers with pink-colored margins.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duesunpkmorn’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,192. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesunpkmorn’ in flower color as plants of ‘Duesunpkmorn’ have intense red purple-colored flowers with yellow green-colored centers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duesunrose’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,189. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesunrose’ in flower color as plants of ‘Duesunrose’ have bright red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duesunvan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,155. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Duesunvan’ in flower color as plants of ‘Duesunvan’ have pale yellow tinged with light red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of Petunia X Calibrachoa ‘Dancalipet’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,063. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancalipet’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are semi-mounding to semi-trailing         in plant habit whereas plants of ‘Dancalipet’ are mounding in         plant habit.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Dancalipet’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancalipet’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Dancalipet’ have red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dopetsunpepu’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dopetsunpepu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early spring in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 lux to 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp.     ‘Dopetsunpepu’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of (Petunia x hybrida) X Calibrachoa sp. identified as     code number TT-0814, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-mounding to semi-trailing plant             habit; freely branching habit with about four to six basal             (primary) lateral branches, each primary lateral branch with             secondary and tertiary laterals potentially developing at             every node; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 26 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then becoming outwardly trailing             with development.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent, minute; matte.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical with ovate tendencies.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate with attenuate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; slightly glossy. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with flowers             potentially developing at every node and typically more than             500 flowers per plant will develop during the flowering             season; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the summer in Southern California; early flowering habit,             plants typically beginning flowering about seven weeks from             unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds (prior to petal appearance).—Length: About             1.25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Elongated. Texture and             luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close to 146B to             146C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.75 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.75 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, middle.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded to truncate,             occasionally with shallow indentation. Petal margin: Entire;             moderately undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; satiny; slightly glossy. Petal             texture and luster, lower surface: Pubescent, minute; matte.             Throat texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte.             Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to             between N57A and 60A; towards the margins, close to 2D;             towards the throat, close to between 7A and 9A. Petal lobe,             when opening, lower surface: Close to between 58A and 60B;             towards the margins, close to 4D. Petal lobe, fully opened,             upper surface: Close to N57A to N57B; towards the margins,             close to NN155A; towards the throat, close to 7A; ring             around throat, close to N163A to N163B; midvein, close to             N144A to N144B and lateral venation, similar to lamina             colors; with development color becoming closer to between             N57B to N57D and towards the margins, close to NN155A, white             areas expanding with development. Petal lobe, fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 58A and 58B; towards the margins,             close to NN155A; venation, close to 146A to 146B; with             development color becoming fainter than 58B and margins,             close to NN155A; white areas expanding with development.             Flower throat: Close to 12A; venation, close to 59A. Flower             tube: Close to 144A to 144B; venation, close to 146A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a             star-shaped calyx. Calyx length: About 1.1 cm. Calyx             diameter: About 2.1 cm. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal             width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from lateral             stem axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte.             Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D             and NN155A. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther shape:             Nearly round. Anther color: Close to 6D. Pollen amount: None             observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.4 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close             to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 145D.             Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate full sunlight conditions,     wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsunpepu’ as illustrated and described. 